Blazon: På blå grunn ein oppreist sølv bever med hovudet vendt bakover. In
English: Azure a beaver rampant reguardant argent.
Approved by the royal resolution of 23 October 1987, after a drawing by Daniel
Rike. [c2j88]
The
municipal web site provides the graphic standards with explanation on how
the design came to be.
There was a public competition to propose designs for the arms. The proposals
included a saw and beaver, but also stone bridge. The last one was abandoned, as
it was alrready used by other municipalities, and eventually the beaver was
chosen. And then there is a story why beaver: In the last 19th cnetury beavers
were almost extinct in Europe, with less then 100 animals alove in Norway,
mostly around Åmli. After the World War there was raised interes in beaver in
Europe and Sigvald Salvesen and Peder Jensen got permission to hunt beavers in
Åmli and export them around Europe. They were sent to Sweden, Finland, England
and afterwards other European lands.
In 1953 the work was taken over by Aslak Harstveit and for his effort the
beavers are again so numerous that they may be hunted again.Željko Heimer, 09 December 2015